Mexican national sentenced to 2 years in prison for illegally re-entering the US

MADISON, Wis. - A criminal alien, who had been previously deported to Mexico, was sentenced in federal court on Thursday to two years in prison for illegally re-entering the United States. This sentence resulted from an investigation conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Jose Luis Muñoz, 26, was sentenced Oct. 21 by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley, Western District of Wisconsin, to two years in federal prison for illegally re-entering the United States after having been previously deported. Muñoz pleaded guilty to the charge on Aug. 17.

ICE deported Muñoz in November 2008 following numerous convictions in Wisconsin and Illinois for the following crimes: battery, resisting arrest, car theft, receiving stolen property, criminal trespass, burglary, obstructing a police officer, and drug possession. He illegally re-entered the United States and was encountered by ICE following his arrest and conviction for drunken driving in Rock County, Wis.

Muñoz will be turned over to ICE and deported again to Mexico after he completes his prison sentence. Re-entering the United States after being formally deported is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Meredith P. Duchemin, Western District of Wisconsin, prosecuted the case.